Segretto, who has an associate degree in early childhood education and is currently working toward her bachelor’s degree, leads a variety of the academy’s upcoming programs. Her schedule includes classes for adults, young children, preschoolers, homeschoolers, and school-age students.
Social Seniors Offers Creativity and Connection
One of the new programs this year is Social Seniors, a class designed primarily for older adults but open to adults in general. The program provides an opportunity for participants to socialize, try new hobbies, and spend time together in a comfortable and accessible setting.
The class takes place in Woodlawn’s barn, a red building located next to the academy that offers convenient parking and easy access.
Segretto plans to introduce participants to a variety of activities, including crocheting, painting, diamond painting, games, and seasonal crafts. The goal is to give participants a chance to explore different hobbies while enjoying time with others, particularly during the winter months when getting out of the house can become more difficult.
Social Seniors meets Thursdays from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. The next eight-week session begins in November and costs $30. Registration is available by calling Woodlawn Arts Academy.
Arts Programs for Tots, Preschoolers and Homeschoolers
Woodlawn is also offering several arts-focused programs for younger students. Segretto’s classes incorporate painting, music, instruments, and crafts while helping children develop fine and gross motor skills.
The classes will also make use of Woodlawn’s larger gym space, allowing younger students to move around, burn off energy, and socialize with other children.
The programs are separated by age group, with classes available for toddlers, preschoolers, and homeschoolers.
The Artsy Tots class meets Thursdays from 10 to 11 a.m. The preschool class follows from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., while the homeschool program runs from 1 to 2 p.m.
Each class costs $60 for an eight-week session. The programs will continue throughout the school year, with new sessions offered approximately every two months, allowing families to join when their schedules allow.
Full Steam Ahead Brings STEM Learning to Life
For children ages 7 to 12, Full Steam Ahead provides hands-on opportunities to explore science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics.
Rather than relying solely on traditional worksheets, the class focuses on activities that allow children to experiment, build, and solve problems. Projects can include building bridges with popsicle sticks and testing their strength or designing parachutes to see how effectively they can protect a falling egg.
The hands-on format allows students to discover how things work while developing problem-solving skills and encouraging curiosity.
Full Steam Ahead meets Thursdays from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. The class costs $60 for an eight-week session and will continue throughout the school year, with additional sessions planned for February and April.
Author and Illustrator Encourages Young Storytellers
The Author and Illustrator class gives children an opportunity to turn their ideas into their own books.
Segretto developed the program in part because of her own childhood love of creating stories and illustrated books. Students begin with an idea and receive guidance as they develop characters, plotlines, and illustrations.
The class also introduces concepts such as fiction and nonfiction while incorporating writing and spelling skills. The primary focus, however, is encouraging children to use their imaginations and complete a book they can take home.
The program also creates opportunities for students to connect with one another. As children share their ideas and see what their classmates are creating, friendships can develop alongside their creative skills.
Kids Night Out Gives Parents a Break
Woodlawn’s Kids Night Out program is designed to give children an evening of activities while providing parents with several hours of free time.
The program combines supervised activities, crafts, food, snacks, and entertainment. Upcoming themes will include special activities such as a glow party, where children can dance, participate in glow-themed activities, and create their own glowing shirts.
Another planned idea is a drive-in movie experience where children can decorate cardboard boxes to look like cars before watching a movie on Woodlawn’s large screen.
The next Kids Night Out event is a glow party scheduled for Friday, October 23, from 6 to 9 p.m.
Expanding Opportunities Through the Arts
The lineup represents only a portion of the programming available through Woodlawn Arts Academy, but the new classes highlight the range of opportunities being offered through Segretto’s Thursday schedule.
From social activities for adults to creative programs for young children and hands-on STEM education for older students, the academy is creating opportunities for participants to explore new interests, build skills, and connect with their community.
For Segretto, the variety of classes also reflects the value of making learning enjoyable. Whether students are experimenting with a STEM project, creating a book, making a craft, or simply spending time with other people, the programs are designed to make education and creativity part of the experience.
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